Trolley wire support



June 23, 1942. s. s. MATTHES TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT Original Filed Dec. 51, 1935 Inventor Attorney m 1 MS 2 M "m 2 a w x n 2 0 e 3 3 I 3 r 3 Patented June 23, 1942 'UNETED STATES TROLLEY WIRE SUPPORT Application December l, 1935, Serial No. 56,973 Renewed November 13, 1939 22 Claims. (01. 19133) My invention relates to devices for use with trolley wires and has special application to the supporting of trolley wires used in trolley bus overhead systems and guiding current collector around curves and through special work.

In trolley bus systems two overhead trolley wires are employed, namely, a positive and a negative. 7 r

In such systems the bus does rfot follow a fixed line of travel along the highway or in rounding curves as it does not operate on a track as in the case of street or interurban cars, but the overhead trolley wires are fixed and the trolley pole heads provided with current collecting shoes or wheels are in engagement With the trolley wires. therefore, the trolley heads follow a fixed path.

In overhead construction for street cars and where the car is equipped with a single pole and trolley head and a single collector, and the street car follows a definite path, it is usual in such cases to construct a curve in such manner that it will have a substantially uniform curvature corresponding closely with that of the track. This is made possible by employing a large number of trolley wire ears or supporting devices spaced fairly close together and of short length and with radiating supporting wires therefrom.

The installation and maintenance of such a construction is very expensive and is especially unsightly.

The above described construction can be employed in connection with the overhead construe tion for trolley bus operation but -I find it quite unnecessary for reasons given above.

I have devised an overhead construction and supporting device therefor which will avoid the above objections.

My invention resides in the new and novel construction, combination and relation of the parts hereinafter described and shown in the accompanying drawing.

In thedrawing:

Fig. 1 is a top view of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a section on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an end View of the sectors as later de scribed.

Fig. 4 is a side view of one end of the sectors shown in Fig. .1 and shows the trolley wire in position.

Fig. 5 is .a top view of Fig. 4..

Fig. 6 is a side viewvof one endof the sector bars shown in Fig. 1.

Figs.7 and 8 are side and end views respectively of clips forming part of each end of the sectors.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged section of the sector bars taken on the line 99 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 10 is a side view of the removable tip applied as shown in Fig. 4.

Fig. 11 shows sections A, B, C, D, and E on the lines so indicated in Fig. 10.

Fig. 12 shows an enlarged section of the tip shown in Fig. 10 after the lips shown in Fig. 11 have been formed about the trolley wire, and may be said to show the construction somewhere between the section lines D and Eof Fig. 10.

Fig. 13 represents the application of my invention to a very simple overhead curve construction.

In the preferred embodiment of my invention, I employ what may be termed sector A and sector B each forming the arc of a circle of proper radius and length. The ordinary type of trolley ear used in supporting trolley wires is about 15'. long and formed straight. The sectors which I employ may be of any desired length as, for example, 60" for sector-bar I and 40" for sectorbar 2.

These supports for the trolley wire are formed on a curve and are of unusual length, which is not true of the ordinary trolley ear referred to above, and are particularly adapted for use in the construction of overhead curves for trolley bus operation.

The sector-bars l and 2 are constructed pref- I erably from standard L or angle sections of ferrous metal, although copper may be used if desired. Such sections provide a vertical portion 3 and a horizontal portion 4.

The bar, after being cut to the proper length, then has the horizontal portion 4 cut away at each end and the vertical portion 3 cut away to reduce its height below the portion 4 by an amount equal approximately to the diameter of the trolley wire. By cutting away the ends of the portions 3 and 4, as just described, it is much easier and simpler to apply the trolley wire as will be appreciated by reference to Figs. 4 and 5. This end construction also renders the ends of the sector-bars more flexible due especially to the elimination of the portion 4, thus permitting the ends of the sector-bars to adjust themselves to variable conditions met with in over-head construction such as temperature changes of the trolley wire and yielding of the overhead construction at anchor points.

After the bars I and 2 have been cut to proper.

length for forming the sectors A and B, the bars are then bent to a predetermined radius with the leg 4 on the convex side of the bar after forming. If the leg 4 is on the concave side it will tend to buckle in forming. Either before or after the bars are curved, the ends have attached thereto spaced plates 5 as shown in Figs. '7 and 8. These plates are attached preferably by welding. The formed plates are applied to the side faces of the sector-bars at the ends thereof as shown by dotted lines in Fig. 6 and are then welded in position by the deposition of metal as shown by the dotted weld portion 6.

The welding metal 6 may then be ground or otherwise machined to a tapered form as shown in Fig. 3, thus providing an easy approach of the current collector onto and off of the sector proper.

Also welded to the convex side of each sector bar I and 2 is a flange I which forms with the angle portion 4 a groove of such size as to loose- 1y receive the trolley wire T.

If desired, the portions 3 and 4 may be made of two separate pieces of fiat bar iron and welded together. I prefer, however, to employ a unit section rolled to the desired shape and size.

The plates 5 are provided with through openings 8 to receive the bolts .9.

Also attached to the sector bar I, preferably by means of welding, is a yoke member I provided with through openings II at one end and with openings .at the other end to receive the bolts I2.

Sector bar 2 is provided with a yoke I3 welded thereto which is provided with a through opening I-4 and openings to receive the bolts I5.

The bolts I2 and I5 are for the purpose of at taching to the yokes III and I3 the insulating spreaders I6 which may consist of wood members I! with clevis caps I 8 applied to the ends thereof.

These spreaders maintain the sectors A and B in spaced and insulated relation and are pivotally secured to the yoke members I2 and. I3 and, therefore, permit what may be termed parallel motion of the sectors, that is, if there is a tendency for one sector to move angularly relative to the other sector then, through the pivotally connected insulators, the motion is transmitted to the other sector tending to maintain the sectors in uniform spaced relation throughout their length.

The yoke members It and I3 have their ends dropped so as to bring the pull between the sectors in horizontal alignment with the trolley wires .or somewhat below. The end I9 of the yoke IE] is bent upwardly slightly to compensate for the sag of the device due .to its weight. The openings II- and I4 are for the attachment .of span and pull-off wires .20 and 2I respectively (Fig. 13). Secured, .as by welding, to the ends of the portions 4 of the sector bars are auxiliary pull-off members 22.

Between the plates .5 at the ends of the sectorbars I provide tips 23 (see Fig. These tips are arranged to hold the wires in position with respect to the ends of the sector-bars and when clinched in position relative .to the trolley wire form .a smooth path for the current collector as it moves onto and off of the sector.

The tip is provided with .a tongue portion 2-4 having openings '25 through which extend the bolts '9 for holding the .tips .in position between the plates 5. The tip i provided with a portion 26 projecting away from the sector-bar and which is formed with an open groove 27 of varying depth through the medium of the lips 28 and 29.

In Fig. 12 the lips 28 as, for instance, between the sections D and E, are shown clinched in position on the trolley wire T. It will be noted that the lower edges of the lips meet a considerable distance below the trolley wire leaving a space 21 (Fig. 12). This permits the trolley wire to be brought up over the end of the sectorbar and at the same time the closed lower surface of the tip is in alignment with the lower edge of the bar, thus the trolley shoe or Wheel makes a smooth and uninterrupted passage oil and onto the sector.

The lips 29 shown in section A of Fig. 11 are arranged to grip into the groove of the trolley wire as the trolley wire most commonly used is of the grooved type. If, however, the wire is round or of other shape, the lips will be made accordingly. The groove formed by the lips 29 is uniform in depth.

The end face 30 of the tip abuts against the end face 3I of the sector and the upper surface of the bar between the plates 5-5 is tapered as shown in Fig. 4 to correspond to the slope of the trolley wire.

The thickness of the portion 3 may be less than that of the trolley wire if desired, and has some advantage in being of such reduced thickness in that the Wear upon the groove-flanges of the trolley shoe or wheel and upon the sector-bar is less as it reduces the friction on the side face of the collector groove in passing through the sector.

In Fig. 13 the trolley Wires T are shown as supported by means of three devices with the wires 20 and 2| attached to poles 32 and insulated therefrom by means of insulators 33.

Insulators similar to I I may be attached to opposite members 22.

If desired, and conditions permit, the sectorbars may be constructed without the portion 4, that is, merely using the vertical portion 3 without the stiffening portion 4. This would add considerable lateral resiliency to the device and under moderate side strains would be entirely satisfactory but under severe conditions there would be a tendency for the sector-bar to bend to excess; for ordinary and heavy service I prefer to employ the portion '4 or its equivalent.

If the sector-bars are not of too great a length, the flange or rib I may be eliminated, depending upon the upper surface 34 of the cut-away ends of the sectors to support the trolley wire.

Modifications will suggest themselves to those skilled in the art based upon my disclosure, therefore, I wish to be limited only by my claims.

While I have shown the bars I and 2 as each supporting a conductor and formed on a curve and connecting end members of a specific form, it will be evident to those familiar with overhead construction the bars may have the ends con nected to other devices than shown as for instanceoverhead frogs, electric switches, crossovers, etc. at curves-crossings, turnouts, -etc., and find particular utility where the spacing between devices is considerable.

I claim:

1. A trolley wire support comprising an elongated body forming a segment of a circle and having two portions at substantially right angles to each other, one of the portions forming an arcuate brace to hold the other portion in shape against strains tending to distort the same, a flange secured to the said second portion and forming with the said first portion a groove to receive atrolley wire, the said second portion extending beyond the ends of the said first portion, spaced means secured to and forming a channel at each end of the second portion to receive the trolley wire, and a hold-down member at each end 'of the saidsecond portion and secured to the spaced means to depress the trolley wire and hold it in alignment with an edge of the second portion, and means attached to the body ior attachment to supporting wires.

2. A support for two trolley wires comprising a pair of curved and spaced members, each member having a curved portion forming a segment of a circle having a common center of radius, one edge of the said portions to engage with and guide a current collector, a curved flange extending along the other edge of each of said portion and projecting laterally therefrom to form a brace for the curved portion, a second flange projecting from each curved portion and spaced from the first flange to form a groove therebetween to receive the trolley wires, renewable end members attached to each end of each curved portion to receive 'and depress the trolley wires at the end of each member, supporting means secured to each member intermediate the ends thereof and having means for attachment to supporting wires, and insulating means attached to the supporting means to hold the curved members in spaced and insulated relation.

3. A trolley wire device for two trolley wires comprising a pair "of curved and spaced members to guide a current collector, each member provided with a groove along the convex side adjacent one edge 'to receive a trolley wire, detachable end members secured to each end of each member to depress the trolley wires and hold them in alignment with the other edge of the members, attaching means secured to each member and a pair of parallel insulating members pivotally connected to the attaching means to hold the members in spaced and parallel relation.

4. A support for a trolley wire comprising an elongated, curved member constructed of angle bar and one leg forming -.a guide for a current collector and the other leg forming :a stiffening element for the first leg to cause it to maintain its curvature under a side pull, a flange secured to the first leg and forming *a groove therewith on the convex side of the leg to receive a trolley wire, means at each end of the member to receive and depress the wire and guide the'current collector onto and off the member and means secured to the member to make attachments thereto to support :the member.

5. A trolley wire support and current collector guide comprising an elongated, curved member formed from a bar having two legs, one leg and a portion of the other leg for a predetermined distance back from each end being cut to form a surface upon one leg a distance below the other leg substantially the same as the diameter of the wire and upon which the trolley wire may rest and pass under the other leg, means intermediate the cut-out portion and projecting from one leg to support the trolley wire, means at each end of the member to receive and depress the trolley wire and guide a current collector from the wire onto the member, and means to support the member.

6. A trolley wire support comprising an elongated device adapted to guide acurrent collector along one edge and comprising a member having two end portions and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion having means adjacent the edge opposite the first said edge to brace it against bending under side strains and the end portions unbraced and subject to yielding under side strains, means to support the device, separately formed means projecting from the free ends of the member and in longitudinal alinement with the free ends to hold a trolley wire in predetermined relation to the member ends, means to secure the projecting means to the free ends and means within the limits of the intermediate portions and cooperating with the first said means to hold the trolley wire in position.

7. A trolley wire device comprising an elongated, curved member having a portion with one edge adapted to guide a current collector across the device and spaced means adjacent to the other edge to retain a trolley wire along the convex surface of the member and spaced from the first said edge, means secured to the member between the ends thereof and above the wire to receive means to support the device, and means at the free ends of the member to hold the wire in predetermined relation thereto.

8. A trolley wire support comprising a pair of elongated, spaced and curved members each having a lower edge to guide a current collector thereacross, transversely disposed means secured to the upper edges, insulating and spacing members positioned between the members and attached to the transversely disposed means to hold the members 'in spaced relation, means for attachment of supporting means to the device, means positioned between the transversely disposed means and the first said edge on each member to receive and retain a trolley wire along the convex surface of the member and means at each end of each member to hold the trolley wire in alignment with the first said edge.

9. A connecting bar for a device to guide a current collector in an overhead system, comprising an elongatedand curved member formed from angle bar having one leg projecting longitudinally beyond the other leg at each end of the member, means cooperating with the said other leg of the member to form means to receive and hold a trolley wire and so located as to prevent interference with the collector, the said projecting portions of the first said leg provided with means for attaching thereto separately formed parts for securing the trolley wire to the ends of the member.

l0. A trolley wire device comprising an elongated rolled metal member having the crosssection of an angle bar provided with two legs, one leg projecting longitudinally beyond the other leg at each end thereof, the lower edge of the first leg being parallel to the other leg and forming a guide for a current collector, means cooperating with the said other leg of the bar to form means to receive :and hold a trolley wire, means at each end of the member and projecting longitudinally therefrom to hold the trolley wire in alignment with the said guiding edge of the first leg and to guide the current collector onto and off the member and means to support the member.

11. A bar to connect overhead trolley parts and guide a current collector over a portion of an overhead system, comprising in combination an'elongated metal member provided with a plurality of legs, the lower edge of one leg arranged to guide the current collector and another leg projecting latterally at a distance from the said edge to resist the member bending laterally, laterally projecting means from oneside face of the first said leg and positioned below the second said leg to support the trolley wire intermediate the ends of the member, upright lugs at each end of the member welded thereto and forming with the first mentioned leg a longitudinal slot having an .open :top and a closed bottom sloping downwardly and outwardly, to receive the said trolley parts, means associated with the said lugs to receive other means to connect the said trolley parts to the ends of the said member in longitudinal alignment thereof, the ends of the first said leg of the member projecting longitudinally beyond the ends of the second said leg.

12. A trolley wire device to support a trolley wire forming a portion of an overhead curve system without breaking the continuity thereof within the length of the device, comprising an elongated horizontally disposed member shaped to form a segment of a curve, said member having a laterally bendable vertical portion of greator height than width, means projecting laterally from said vertical portion at a distance from said lower edge and embracing a predetermined portion of said bar less than the total length thereof :to resist bending of said predetermined portion of said vertical portion transversely under side stress, the unbraced projecting end portions being adjustable laterally to change the curvature of the vertical portion, detachable means at the end of each .of said unbraced portions to hold the trolley wire in predetermined relation with the vertical portion and means associated with said brace portion of the vertical portion to support the trolley wire in predetermined relation to the braced portion.

13. A member for a trolley wire device for supporting a predetermined length of a trolley wire against side stresses and holding the trolley wire to a predetermined curvature in an overhead system, comprising an elongated member shaped to the desired curvature of the trolley wire, the said member having a vertical portion, the said vertical portion having two end portions and an intermediate portion, the intermediate portion provided with means projecting laterally adjacent one edge to brace the intermediate portion against bending under side stresses after the member has been formed to said predetermined curvature and placed in service, the end portions being left unbraced and subject to yielding under side stress, a groove along the convex side of the curved bar to receive a continuous trolley wire, the unbraced ends of the curved bar provided with means to receive means to co operate with detachable members arranged to engage and hold the trolley wire whereby the trolley wire may :be secured to the ends of the bar in predetermined relation to the ends of the vertical portion of the bar.

14. A trolley wire device for application to a continuous trolley wire to hold the same to a predetermined curvature in an overhead system.

comprising an elongated metal member shaped to the radius of the desired curve, said member having a vertical portion and also bracing means projecting laterally from the said vertical portion and embracing a portion of the length of the vertical portion to resist the bending of that portion of the said elongated member embraced by said means while under side stress, the unbraced projecting end portions of the elongated member being yieldable under side stress, de-

tachable means at the free end of the .said unbraced projecting end portions for receiving and holding a trolley wire in predetermined relation to the lower edge of the vertical portion, means for securing the detachable means to the ends of the elongated member, means disposed along the convex side of the vertical portion adjacent one edge thereof to receive that portion .of the continuous trolley wire interposed between the detachable means and to hold the wire in a predetermined position relative to said edge, and transversely disposed means attached to said member intermediate the embraced portion whereby the device may be supported in an overhead trolley system.

15. A trolley wire device comprising an elongated curved member of metal having a rectangular cross-section, means projecting laterally from the convex side of the member to prevent the side stress to which the member is subjected from distorting ..a predetermined length of the member less than the entire length of the member, convexly grooved means associated with the member and extending along the curved member to receive a continuous trolley wire, separately formed means associated with that portion of the member other than the said predetermined length to hold the trolley wire in predetermined relation to the member, means to secure the separately formed means to the membeer and means associated with the member to receive supports for the device.

16. A trolley wire support for application to a trolley wire forming a curve of an overhead trolley system without breaking the continuity of the trolley wire, comprising a longitudinally extending bar of metal bent to form a segment of a curve and having a vertical portion which is of greater height than width, the bar having three sections, namely: an elongated non-bendable central section and two bendable end sections, one projecting longitudinally from each end of the center non-bendable section, the bendable end sections permitting of lateral adjust- 4 ment of the end sections whereby the end sections of the bar may be brought into alignment with the trolley wire and convexly curved means curved to that of the bar to receive the trolley wire and means associated with and cooperating with the end sections to secure the trolley wire thereto.

17. A trolley wire supporting device for use with a trolley Wire forming a curve of an overhead system comprising an elongated curved bar of rectangular cross-section having two bendable able section and the means associated therewith operating to permit the adjustment of the bar ends into alignment with the trolley wire attached thereto.

18. A trolley wire support for use with a trolley wire forming a curve of an overhead trolley system to support the trolley wire and maintain its curvature comprising an elongated curved bar of rectangular cross-section horizontally disposed on edge and provided with a non-bendable section and a bendable section projecting longitudinally from each end of the non-bendable section, a groove extending along the bar to receive the trolley wire and maintain it in predetermined relation to the bar, separately formed means associated with the bendable sections to hold the trolley wire in predetermined relation to the bar, means to secure the separately formed means in position, the bendable sections permitting the lateral adjustment of the bar ends whereby the ends may be brought into alignment with the trolley wire attached thereto and means attached to the bar whereby the bar may be supported.

19. A trolley wire support for use with a trolley wire forming a curve of an overhead trolley system to support the trolley wire and maintain its curvature comprising an elongated curved bar of rectangular cross-section horizontally disposed on edge and provided with a non-bendable section and a bendable section projecting longitudinally from each end of the non-bendable section, means projecting laterally from the nonbendable section to maintain the predetermined curvature of the non-bendable section, the bar provided with a longitudinally disposed groove to receive the trolley wire and maintain it in predetermined relation to the bar, separately formed means associated with each bendable section to hold the trolley wire in predetermined relation to the bendable sections, means to secure the separately formed means in position, the bendable sections being adjustable laterally whereby the ends thereof may align with the trolley wire, and means associated with the bar to support the bar.

20. A support for a trolley wire forming a part of a curve of an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated bar of metal having a central portion and end portions, means to maintain the curvature of the central portion of the bar when subjected to side strains, each end portion being of less length than the central portion and bendable under side stress of the trolley wire in the direction of curvature of the bar and, therefore,

providing means to vary the curvature of the bar whereby the end portions may be brought into longitudinal alignment with the trolley wire leading to and from the bar ends, means to secure the trolley wire to the bar and means secured to the bar adjacent its longitudinal center whereby the bar may be attached to supporting means.

21. A support for a trolley wire forming a part of a curve of an overhead trolley system comprising an elongated bar of metal having a central portion and end portions, means to maintain the curvature of the central portion of the bar when subjected to side strains, each end portion being bendable under side stress of the trolley wire in the direction of curvature of the bar and, therefore, providing means to vary the curvature of the bar whereby the end portions may be brought into longitudinal alignment with the trolley wire leading to and from the bar ends, means to secure the trolley wire to the bar and means secured to the bar adjacent its longitudinal center whereby the bar may be attached to supporting means.

22. A trolley device adapted to support a pair of continuous trolley wires forming a part of a curve of an overhead trolley system and to maintain the curvature of said wires comprising, a pair of elongated curved and spaced members, a groove along the convex face of each member adjacent one edge thereof, each groove adapted to receive one of the trolley wires, separately formed means secured to each end of each memher to hold the trolley wire in predetermined relation to the ends of the curved members, a transversely disposed member secured to each curved member adjacent its longitudinal center, each transverse member provided with means to receive supporting means therefor, insulating members disposed between the transverse members and secured thereto to maintain the transverse and curved members in spaced and parallel relation.

SAMUEL S. MATTHES. 

